The Accused – theSpace at Surgeons’ Hall

After taking our seats in the performance space we waited in spooky red light, listening to eerie music, knocking and screams.  So the mood was set – for murder! 

Daniel Hindley is on trial for the murder of pretty young thing Samantha Sutcliffe (names sound familiar?), after she stole the starring role in a show in which he had been promised the lead.  After the charges have been read in the court, we see in flashback, various key moments leading up to the awful crime, although stopping short of revealing the actual killer.  That’s up to the jury to decide.  Before the case was presented, members of the audience had to look under our seats to discover if we had been selected for jury duty in the form of the presence, or not, of a paddle with “G” on one side “N.G.” on the other.  I found a paddle under my seat.  Oh!  The responsibility.

The Accused is a dark comedy presented by The Inner Temple Drama Society, with all the players being trainee barristers or other types of legal eagles in the making.  Written by Charlotte Buck and Tristan Greene and directed by Charlotte Buck, the show is a fusion of courtroom drama, some great songs with customised lyrics, mad dancing, drag, and a few gags straight out of the Carry On joke book.  Nicole Terry as Hindley and Hannah Kerry Hodgson as Sutcliffe play their roles convincingly, with able support from Nicola Parks as Fred, Maxine Kolaru as the dance teacher and Vikita Khetani as the waiter/hairdresser.  Parks is particularly watchable with frenetic energy in abundance.  The prosecuting counsel is played by Amelia Leventhorpe, defence by Kateryna Cutler, both of whom play their roles with assurance, and the delightfully moustachioed judge (Tristan Greene), made a lasting impression, not just in the role, but in the quality of his singing voice, his classical training being evident even in the Eminem rap “Lose Yourself”.   I thought the songs were the most fun parts of the show and, although not everyone was blessed with as fine a singing voice as the judge, all the songs were performed with energy and relish and the altered lyrics were clever.  RESPECT became REVENGE, brilliant!

The only bit that slightly grated for me was the part of the Clerk (Tom Isaac), in drag.  At least in half drag, wearing a formal suit with long red wig, full drag make-up and gold platform high heels.  Maybe it would have been funnier had he been wearing full drag underneath an academic gown, and why was he sitting on a toddler’s stool?  I admire his ability to rise so effortlessly from such a low seat, especially wearing those heels, but it did look rather odd and I can only assume it was done to show him at a lower level than the judge, in which case, raising the judge might have been a better option.  Isaac played his role well enough, but if you’re going to dress in drag – own it!  He looked slightly uncomfortable, not to mention unstable, and the clumpy shoes made a loud distracting noise on the hollow stage, which would have been improved had he taken fewer, more purposeful steps.

The Accused is a fun courtroom romp, entertaining, well-paced and an amusing 50 minutes.  Oh, and the verdict (on this occasion) – Not Guilty.

Reviewer: H.S.Baker

Reviewed: 19th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: